Flexible study your way

As an Australian pioneer in distance education, CSU provides real study flexibility, allowing you the freedom to choose when and where you complete your degree. Choose part-time or full-time, study just one subject at a time, or mix study from home with periods of studying on campus.

With the freedom to fit tertiary study into your lifestyle, choose when and where you complete your study.

You may be a professional looking to upgrade your qualifications, a stay at home parent keen to take on a new interest or restart your career, or someone wanting to make the lifelong dream of attaining a degree finally come true. Remember - you're never 'too old' to study.

CSU offers you a range of ways to study that assist you to fit university into your life.

Choose your course

Feel like plunging right into an undergraduate degree, postgraduate qualification or PhD? Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses to top up your professional qualifications, further your career potential, or explore a personal interest.

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Full-time or part-time study

Most students studying by distance education choose to do so part-time. Part-time study gives you the flexibility to work at the same time, or juggle additional personal commitments. However, you can choose to fast-track your studies by studying over three sessions in one year.

Mixed mode

Distance education students can increase subject choices by studying some subjects on campus for a session. Mixed mode also allows you to change from studying by distance education, to attending on campus, and vice-versa.

More about Studying on campus

Single subject study

CSU's Single Subject Study program allows you to study one or subject at a time without committing to a full degree, helping you build knowledge in specific areas and sample life as a university student before diving in. This is also a good option if you did not get into the course you preferred, as single subjects may be credited towards your degree.

Many of the single subjects available are Open Entry. Open Entry means you don't need a university entry score to study a certain subject, you don't even need to have finished high school. Build your subjects up to a degree, or just focus on what interests you.

More about Single Subject Study

Study over three sessions

CSU's flexible study options include the possibility to study some subjects in Session 3. This allows students in some courses to spread their study load over three sessions in one year or fast-track their degree by studying additional subjects in a third session. All Session 3 subjects are offered by distance education.

Cross institutional study

If you are currently enrolled at another higher educational institution, you can apply to study a particular subject at Charles Sturt University and have it credited towards your degree.

More about Cross institutional study

Credit (Recognition of Prior Learning)

The University does not usually expect students to repeat study completed at an acceptable standard at a university or college, or to study subjects in which they are already competent because of work or other experience.

A request for credit should be made when completing the application form of the course you wish to study. Certified supporting evidence such as transcripts and subject descriptions will need to be included with the application for credit. The University will advise of the application outcome in writing.

More on Credit for study and experience

Where to go next:

• Levels of study
• Study support
• Assessment